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This Halal Guys-Inspired Chicken and Rice Skillet is sure to become a favorite when you are craving those Halal flavors at home!
The flavors of this recipe are inspired by the chicken and rice bowls created by Halal food trucks and The Halal Guys restaurants, if you are familiar. To simplify this recipe for the homecooked version, I decided to make this into one skillet and I love how it turned out.
You’ll start by making your spice blend that will be used for both the chicken and the rice. Once your chicken is seared, you will begin your rice then add your chicken back into the skillet to let it finish cooking along with the rice. While your chicken and rice cook, you can quickly whip up the delicious Halal white sauce, plus get your toppings ready for serving.
Ingredients: For the Skillet
- Garlic Powder
- Dried Oregano
- Ground Coriander
- Ground Cumin
- Smoked Paprika
- Ground Turmeric
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Avocado Oil
- Unsalted Butter
- Yellow Onion
- Basmati White Rice
- Lemon Zest and Juice
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
- Fresh Parsley
- Plus a few more ingredients for the White Sauce and serving!
Step-by-Step:
Step One: Make the Seasoning Blend
In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, oregano, coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step Two: Season the Chicken
Pat the chicken dry then season both sides of the chicken with 2 tablespoons of the spice mixture, reserving the rest for the rice.
Step Three: Sear the Chicken
Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken in a single layer and cook on both sides until a golden-brown crust forms, 2 to 3 minutes per side. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked yet. Set the browned chicken on a clean plate and set aside.
Step Four: Start the Rice
Reduce the heat beneath the skillet to medium. Add the butter and let melt. Next, add the onions and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and toss to combine. Stir in the remaining spice mixture and lemon zest. Cook, stirring, to toast the rice and spices, about 2 minutes.
Step Five: Continue Cooking the Chicken and Rice
Add the lemon juice, chicken broth, and parsley and stir to combine. Bring to a rapid simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to a light simmer and nestle the chicken and any of its juices back into the skillet. Cover and cook, simmering lightly, for 20 minutes. Remove from heat but keep the cover on and allow the rice to steam for another 5 more minutes.
Step Six: Make the White Sauce
Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the white sauce ingredients. Set aside.
Step Seve: Serve and Enjoy!
To serve, ladle the chicken and rice in a shallow bowl. Add some shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, a drizzle of the white sauce, and a drizzle of sriracha. Serve with warm pita and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs:
Yes! It lasts for 2 to 3 days in the fridge.
I would store the chicken and rice in glass containers separate from the toppings so you can easily pop them into the oven to reheat! You can warm in the oven at 350F for 12-15 minutes, or until chicken is warmed through, then top with the shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, a drizzle of the white sauce, and a drizzle of sriracha.
This Halal-Inspired Chicken and Rice Skillet is great for meal prep and is sure to become a family favorite! Comment below once you make it!
want even more chicken recipes? try these!
One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Lemony White Beans
Creamy Ricotta Chicken and Orzo Skillet
Halal-Inspired Chicken and Rice Skillet
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Rice Skillet:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup finely diced yellow onion (about ½ an onion)
- 1 cup basmati white rice, rinsed until the water runs clear
- Zest of ½ lemon
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
For the White Sauce:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar (sub coconut sugar)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley leaves
Optional, For Serving:
- 2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- Warm pita bread
- Sriracha
Instructions
Make the Chicken and Rice Skillet:
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, oregano, coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Pat the chicken dry then season both sides of the chicken with 2 tablespoons of the spice mixture, reserving the rest for the rice.
- Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken in a single layer and cook on both sides until a golden-brown crust forms, 2 to 3 minutes per side. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked yet. Set the browned chicken on a clean plate and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter and let melt. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes.
- Add the rice and toss to combine. Stir in the remaining spice mixture and lemon zest. Cook, stirring, to toast the rice and spices, about 2 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice, chicken broth, and parsley and stir to combine. Bring to a rapid simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to a light simmer and nestle the chicken and any of its juices back into the skillet. Cover and cook, simmering lightly, for 20 minutes. Remove from heat but keep the cover on and allow the rice to steam for another 5 more minutes.
Make the White Sauce:
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the white sauce ingredients. Set aside.
Serve:
- To serve, ladle the chicken and rice in a shallow bowl. Add some shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, a drizzle of the white sauce, and a drizzle of sriracha. Serve with warm pita and enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography and styling by Eat Love Eats.
It is absolutely amazing!
Made this tonight after seeing it on your insta this weekend. Doubled the recipe and diced the chicken instead of leaving it as full pieces and it came out so good! Definitely had to trust the process as I’ve never made rice this way (shoutout to my rice cooker haha) but I’m so glad I tried this! It was an absolute smash!
This just became one of my new favorites. So easy and the chicken was so tender and delish!
Loved this dish. Husband loved this dish. Luckily had all ingredients on hand except for fresh parsley but it was still great! Only issue is that the rice didn’t cook evenly and some was not totally cooked through but I always have that issue with rice skillet/one pot type dishes like these so it could totally be me. Had it with cabbage salad (dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and salt). Highly recommend
Doubled this for meal prep this week and love it! Even with doubling, I didn’t have to buy many ingredients…ha!
Thanks for the review, Jenny! Hope you enjoy it all week long!
5 stars to combat the negative review 🙄. I have not made this eitherrrr but your instagram post took me here immediately. I have almost every ingredient I need and it looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it!!!!!!
Ha! Appreciate it and hope you enjoy cooking this one. Definitely come back once you try it so we can hear your thoughts!
I was out of groceries yesterday and still only needed to buy 4 things to make this recipe (chicken, lettuce, tomato, and an onion)! It was so simple and delicious!!! Can’t wait to make it again! Also I read the reviews because I’ve never seen such a low rating on one of your recipes … I laughed out loud when I realized she hadn’t even made the recipe yet😉 I cook your recipes at least 5 nights a week and they’re always delicious, healthy and thoroughly enjoyed by my kids and husband! Thanks for all you do!
Thank you so much, Clare! Appreciate your thoughtful review and glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Immediately had to run and grab the couple ingredients I was missing to make this, Halal guys is a must stop for us when we travel and your recipe did not disappoint! Fantastic! Brought back so many great memories
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Jamie!
I was fortunate to have all the ingredients on hand when I saw this posted on Instagram and I just had to try it. It was delicious, filling, and so easy! I will definitely make it again.
Full disclosure, I did have an extra packet of Halal Guys white sauce on hand so I didn’t make my own sauce and skipped adding hot sauce.
oh yummmm i mean, nothing beats their white sauce so i bet it was better than ever.
30 ingredients???? Are you kidding?
Mari-
This recipe doesn’t claim to be minimal ingredients. Most of the ingredients are spices that you may or may not already have in your pantry. It is a spice heavy dish.
Regardless, coming on to my recipe that you haven’t made and giving it a 1-star review is just a real asshole thing to do and not helpful to those considering making this recipe. I have a variety of recipes: some with less ingredients, some with more. Make what you want, but please do not come and review a recipe that you aren’t inclined to make if it has too many ingredients for your liking– please and thank you.